A mechanism triggered by the activation of two specific proteins called JAK2 and STAT3 was found to contribute to the damaging cellular transformations that occur in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a study reports. Blocking this signaling pathway reduced the levels of lung damage in a rat model of IPF,…
Dual Inhibition of 2 Proteins Reduces Lung Damage in IPF Rat Model, Study Shows
Following a diagnosis of a life-threatening illness like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), days filled with happiness and gratitude can rare. After my own IPF diagnosis in early 2016, I had many days of confusion, anger, and fear of what my life as a young adult would look…
A new nanocarrier has been developed that is able to selectively deliver medicines to damaged cells in the lungs, alleviating fibrosis in mice, a study reports. Based on a naturally occurring process called cell senescence, the system also helps reduce the therapies’ toxic effects on healthy…
A team of researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine was recently granted $865,282 from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) to investigate a stem cell therapy for pulmonary fibrosis. CIRM awarded two grants worth a total of…
Following my idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) diagnosis in early 2016, I was told that the doctors couldn’t predict how fast or slow my disease would progress. Since it was so “rare” that I had IPF before my 30th birthday, my medical teams were pretty transparent about not…
An immune pathway that includes a molecule known as IL-33 and its receptor, ST2, may be key in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis (PF), according to new research in mice. The study, “The IL-33 Receptor ST2 Regulates Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis to Bleomycin,” was published…
Just like you, I’ve had my share of good experiences with doctors, and frustrating ones, too. I wish I could share some tips with doctors to help me cope with this awful disease. I’ve asked fellow patients I know online for their input, and they had a lot…
A new mobile app called PF Health has been launched to help patients with pulmonary fibrosis track their symptoms and share that information with their healthcare providers. The PF Health app resulted from collaborative work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) and monARC Bionetworks, and aims to empower…
I am currently attending a professional development conference for work that is inspiring, enriching, and exhausting! Since my diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in early 2016, it’s no secret that I no longer have the stamina to do all the things I once could. This includes…
Targeting a key protein of the innate immune system called TLR4 could be a new way of treating people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) and other fibrotic disorders, according to a Northwestern University study. The study, “TLR4-dependent fibroblast activation drives persistent organ fibrosis in skin and lung,” was published…
